Boat lifting rack



Dec. 26, 1939. HORTON 2,185,083

BOAT LIFTING RACK Filed Nov. 10, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l- 26"% Fig.1. 2 3 13 J4 Dec. 26, 1939.

BOAT LIFTING RACK Filed Nov. 10, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 Fig.2.

22 20 J7 7 25 s'fl 26 I vygl 4 3 W a. L. HORTON 2,185,083

Patented Dec. 26,1939

UNITED STATES PAT ET 7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in boatcradles or racks generally, although more particularly to those adapted for removing small boats from the water and maintainingthem in a desired position at the adjacent shore.

In the use of small boats such as rowboats, canoes, and the like, it is desirable at times to remove the boats from the water for dumping water from them, for washing down the bottoms of them, or for repair work.

Ordinarily such boats are removed from the water only with considerable difficulty and without mechanical aid. Such removals often are extremely difficult due to the slope of the bottom and shore, or to roughness'of the water at the time.

The invention seeks toavoid the difficulties above enumerated by providing a boat dumping cradle in which the boats may be placed while in the water, and then be lifted from the water by mechanical means.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a dumping cradle structure for small boats including an open framework or cradle normally M positioned in the water and adapted to receive and support a small boat therein, and mechani-' cal means for lifting the cradle and boat from the water to a position over the shore.

Another object of the invention isto provide a device of the above character which is easily transportable from one place to-another.

Another object of the invention is to providea device of the above character which is ruggedly constructed, simple in design, and economical to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view which will more fully appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by following the description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevationof a boat-rack constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a left end elevation thereof, partly in section.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail showing of one of the stops. .In the particular illustration herein made, the invention is embodied in a boat dumping cradle structure including a mounting frame generally designated A, a manually actuated winch B, and i a boat receiving cradle C.

Y The mounting frame A comprises a plurality of spaced longitudinal sill members 5,connected at their ends by front and rear transverse sill members 6. A plurality of transversely disposed spaced parallel beams 'I are secured to the upper faces of'the sills and extend the full width therearm of. .An angular sill piece 8 extends downwardly and forwardly from substantially the mid-point of each end sill 5 into engagement with the forward transverse sill 6.

The winch B includes a pair of spaced parallel A-frames 9 which are secured to the upper faces of the beams 1 adjacent the rear portions of the frame A and are maintained in rigid position by diagonal braces I0, faces thereof. A shaft I2 is rotatably supported in the A-frames adjacent the apices thereof and has one end projecting beyond one of said frames. The shaft-serves as a winch rotor, and a crank it having a handle I4 is secured to the projecting end of said shaft so that the shaft can be manually rotated. A ratchet andpawl equipment l5, 18 may be employed to hold the shaft .lZin a position of rest.

The boat-receiving cradle C comprises a pair of spaced parallel arcuate channel members H which are maintained in spaced relation by transverse'reinforcing channels it rigidly secured to the inner faces thereof. The transverse channels l8 are disposed with their upstanding flanges extending inwardly and are provided with wooden filler blocks I9 projecting beyond the flange edges to thereby prevent marring of a boat resting in the cradle. The ends ofjeach arcuate channel ii are chordally joined by a channel beam portion 2Q. It is to be noted that the limit of arc of the members I1 is defined by the major segment of a circle. It is also to be noted that the members H are U-shaped in cross section and are disposed with the upstanding webs projecting outwardly. Eachof the chord beam portions 2% is provided'with a pair of spaced lugs 2! disposed at substantially the mid-point of the outer face thereof. A headed stop member 22 is pivotally mounted at one end as at 23 between each pair of lugs;

The cradle C is pivotally mounted upon the mounting frame B through the medium of spaced angular end blocks 24 provided with fulcrum H secured across the rear brackets 25 preferably formed from strap metal shaped to provide longitudinal fulcrum slots 26. The width of each block and associated bracket is slightly less than the-internal width of the channels H. The cradle is connected to the brackets 25 by pivot pins 21 located near or adjacent the ends of the chord members 20. By reason of the provision of the longitudinal slots 25 a measure of adjustment of the cradle is per mitted whenever desired.

A. pair of ropes or cables 28 are provided and each has one end secured in the manner illustrated to one channel flange l1, and its other end secured adjacent one end of the shaft E2 of the winch B. Thus it will be observed that by rotating the winch shaft by the crank l3, M, the lines 28 will be either wound upon or unwound from the shaft and a consequent rotation of the cradle about the pivots 21 will take place.

In use, the boat dumping cradle structure is positioned upon the shore of a body of water with the cradle end of the mounting frame extending waterward in the manner illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings. The sills 8, due to their angular relation to the plane of the platform, will contact with the shore, or bottom, and maintain the plane of the mounting stand as a Whole substantially horizontal. The normal position of the cradle C is with the chord members 28 substantially horizontal, so that the cradle'as a whole is extending out and into the adjacent water. See the dotted lines in Figure 3. A small boat, such as a rowboat, is then floated into the cradle, and the crank 63, id is rotated to eiTect a pivoting of the cradle and the consequent lifting of the boat from the water.

It will be noted that the stops 22 are so proportioned and mounted that as the cradle is being rotated to, and past the upright position, said stops gravitate to the vertical position, and, as the cradle passes a dead center position above the pivot pins 2?, and continues movement toward the winch, the stops will contact at their lower ends and act as propsto thereby limit the movement of the cradle.

Thus it will be seen that herein is disclosed a dumping cradle for small boats which is practical, simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical to manufacture.

It is of course to be understoodthat the details of structure and arrangement of parts may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

l. A boat dumping cradle structure for small boats including a mounting frame, a winch mounted on said frame, a boat-receiving cradle arcuate in vertical cross section and havingone end of the are directly and pivotally connected to said frame, said cradle being normally maintained in a position outboard of sad frame, and means connecting the-cradleand Winch whereby the cradle can be swung from normal position to a position overlying said mounting frame.

2. A boat dumping cradle structure for small boats including ,a mounting frame; a winch mounted on said frame; aboatweceiving cradle normally maintained in a position outboard of said frame, said cradle including a pair of spaced parallel arcuate end members each directly and pivotally connected to an end to said mounting frame, transverse spacing beams secured along the inner periphery of said endmembers, and chordal beams joining the ends of each arcuate member; and means connecting the cradle and winch whereby the cradle can be swung from said normal position to a position overlying said mounting frame.

3. A boat dumping cradle structure for small boats including a mounting frame; a Winch structure mounted on said frame; said structure Winch including spaced supports secured to said mounting frame, a shaft journa-led in said supports and having one end projectin outwardly from one of said frames, and a crank secured to said projecting shaft end;- a boat-receiving cradle arcuate in vertical cross section and having one end of the are directly and pivotaily connected to one end of said frame and normally maintained in a position outboard of said frame; saidshaft being disposed at an elevation ab ve the mounting frame generally approximating the width of the cradle, and means connecting the cradle and winch whereby the cradle can be swung from said normal position to a position overlying said mounting frame.

4. A boat dumping cradle structure for small boats includingv a mounting frame, said frame comprising a plurality of spaced parallel longi tudinal sill pieces, transverse sill pieces secured across the ends of said longitudinal sills, aplurality of spaced parallel transverse floor beams secured to the upper faces of said sills and extending across thev combined width thereof,

wedge-shaped fulcrum-carrying members secured to the forward corners of said frame, and

spaced downwardly and forwardly extending subsills disposed beneath said longitudinal sills;=;a

winch mounted on said frame; a boat-receiving cradle pivotally secured to said fulcrum-carrying members and normally disposed outboardlof the.

frame; and means connecting said winch and cradle whereby the cradle can be swung to a position overlying said frame.

5. A boat dumping cradle structure for small boats including a mounting frame and a boatreceiving cradle pivotally mounted on one end thereof, said cradle including a pair of spaced parallel arcuate end members, transverse spacing beams secured along the inner periphery of said end members, and chordal beams joining the ends of each arcuate member; means mounted on said frame and connected to said cradle wherebythe cradle can be swung from the outboard position to a position overlying the mounting frame; and stops pivotally, secured to said chordal beams and adapted to gravitate to the vertical position- Whereby movement of the cradle past dead center' position will be limited.

6. A boat dumping cradle structurefor'small boats including a. mounting frame, a winch mounted on said frame, a boat-receiving cradle having one end pivotally connected to one end"- of said frame and normally maintained in a po sition outboard of said frame, stop members piv otally secured to said cradle and adaptedto gravitate to the vertical position whereby the lower ends thereof will engage said mounting frame to limit the movement of the cradle, and means connecting the cradle and winch whereby the cradle can be swung from said normal positionto a position overlying said mountingframe.

7. A boat dumping cradle structure for small boats including. a mounting frame, said frame comprising a plurality of spaced parallellongitudinal sill pieces, transverse sill pieces secured across the ends of said longitudinal sills, a plu rality of spaced parallel transverse floor beams securedto the upper faces of said sills and e tending across the combined Width thereof, Wedge-shaped fulcrum-carrying members secured to the forward corners of said frame, strap metal fulcrums secured thereto, said fulcrums being shaped to define longitudinal slots adjacent the 5 upper edges of said fulcrum-carrying members, and spaced downwardly and forwardly extending sub-sills disposed beneath said longitudinal sills,

a winch mountedon said frame, a boat-receiving cradle pivotally secured to said fulcrum straps 4 and normally disposed outboard of the frame, and means connecting said winch and cradle whereby the cradle can be swung to a position overlying said frame.

GILBERTL. HORTON.

CERTIFICATE OF comcmon; Patent No. 2,185, 85 I December 959 GILBERT L. HORTON.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction as' follows: In the grant, line 6 therecf, title of invention, for "BOAT LIFTING RACKS" read "BOAT DUMPING CRADLES--; and in the heading tq the drawings and specification, for "BOAT LIFTING RAG K" read BOAT DUHPING CRADLE--; and "that the said Letters- Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record Bf the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of August, A. D- 19110.

(Seal) 

